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Air Force team completes historic project at Bagram

  • Published
  • By Capt. Michael Meridith
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  A historic accomplishment here is simply part of the job for a traveling team of Airmen who have been enhancing Air Force missions throughout the region for the last two months. 

The nine-person team, deployed from the 49th Material Maintenance Group at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently made history with the erection of the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force. 

The team began construction on the 225 by 70 foot aircraft hangar on October 22 and completed it on November 5. The hangar, which is intended to simultaneously house three of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters, dwarfs the Air Force's 150 by 70 foot "standard model." 

"Normally, these shelters are designed to hold one aircraft. This is basically two and half shelters grafted together and is the largest one like it in the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Samuel Tran of Salem, Mo., who leads the team. 

Sergeant Tran's team, which deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility in August, is the only one of its kind in the region, and as such stays in
high demand. Because of their busy operations tempo, Sergeant Tran says that accomplishments like the hangar are "just part of the job." 

Prior to their arrival here, the team had already tackled several large projects including the erection of three, 6,000 square-foot shelters and one 4,000 square-foot shelter and the dismantling of one 4,000 and one 8,000 square-foot shelter. 

"It's very exciting, especially being part of a unique team that goes out and does stuff like this," said team member Staff Sgt. Adam Boubede of New Orleans. "We go out and get the job done as fast as we can, then move on and do it again. Everywhere we go it's something new: whether it's repairing, reconstitution or building the biggest ACH (deployable aircraft hangar) in Air Force history." 

The four-month deployment is a first for several of the team-members, but many are satisfied to put home station training to use in support of expeditionary missions. "It's a good feeling," said Senior Airman Brad Hellberg of Lancaster, Pa. "Without us, they wouldn't have the shelter. Back at home we train for this, then we come out here and do the work." 

According to Sergeant Tran, the team has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback for their work, but added that their motivation is something that comes from within the team itself. 

"We look at each job as a challenge and see if we can beat our own record. Our motivation is internal; it's not something that comes from the outside. We don't compromise safety for speed, it has to be a marriage between the two," Sergeant Tran said.